Asking unnecessarily tough questions of Qantas...

[munitalP]

This is a letter of complaint I have just sent through to QF. A little naughty making it public, but I am sure the responses are going to be interesting. Oh yes, I have awarded myself the tool of the week award as well, just for being such a prat...

Mr!

:shock:

ISA/BNE QF1077 2 OCT 2009 TICKET CLASS Y

Observation

Most centre seats empty - in fact, all in my immediate view

Fact

I only purchase the seat I sit in
I have Y class fares
4 empty J class seats
The only row of seats in the front area of the 733 with 3 PAX was mine

Why is this so and please don't give me a loading BS line. The PAX next to me had no status showing on her boarding pass, the PAX adjacent to me had no status showing on her boarding pass - why was PAX 4E put there instead of 4B or row 5 through to at least 10?

This happens so often to me, I wonder if my double platinum status I have earned in the last 9 months means squat to Qantas - am I really just a number with Qantas? :shock: (note the emotiocon was not in the letter!)

I would appreciate a reply that is not standard spin about no control on seating allocation etc... Honestly, 2009 has critically tested my ability to control my emotions with Qantas :evil: (see previous note)

 

[oz_mark]

...and here I was thinking that it only happened to me.

 

[Evan]

I hate it when that happens and i really wait to see the reply !
I would complain also in that case but then i would think of all the op-ups i have got recently and would not want to make then go away hehehe

 

[Dave Noble]

Earning 2400 SCs does not offer an empty seat nearby guarantee. If someone checked in and requested the seat , there is no reason why they should not be seated there

I can't see that what the availability in business case matters at all

 

[pauly7]

Oh yes, I have awarded myself the tool of the week award as well, just for being such a prat...

Seconded

 

[Hvr]

Why is this so and please don't give me a loading BS line. The PAX next to me had no status showing on her boarding pass, the PAX adjacent to me had no status showing on her boarding pass - why was PAX 4E put there instead of 4B or row 5 through to at least 10?

You may confuse Qantas by saying the pax adjacent and the pax next to me. Most of us consider those words to have the same meaning.

Were they travelling together? What was there fare class? I guess there are a thousand reasons why they could be there and doubt if QF will tell you.

Still will be interesting to hear their response.

 

[chrizzz14]

im sure they will come up with a lame excuse such as ive been given before
"pax are positionted to balance the aircraft trim"

riiiight! i wonder if the QF staff even know the meaning of the words they speak....or write!

But i do agree, things like this have happened to me in the past - i once requested an Xit row seat on a red eye flight from PER-SYD, i was told that every single one was taken, i got on board and the entire exit row (bar one occupied seat) was empty - ofcourse i sat there anyway!

But i didnt complain much for the same reason as Evan - ive had quite a few free upgrades this year so ill keep complaints to a minimum....for now

 

[trippin_the_rift]

...here I was thinking it only happened to me too...

The way I see it - if they can't guarantee an empty seat next to you on a low load flight (note: airnz does this by default), then I guess you can't guarantee QF that you'll maintain those 2,400 SC/year.

Fair is fair.

I too look forward to seeing the response...

 

[albatross710]

Most centre seats empty - in fact, all in my immediate view

Did you ask for an empty seat next to you?

 

[aus_flyer]

Perhaps someone used OLCI and allocated their own seat?

 

[drewbles]

Did you ask for an empty seat next to you?

"Sorry sir we are not able to block seats anymore, but at this stage you have no one seated next to you"

If QF don't block at checkin for middle seats, someone on quickcheck can easily pick it. Why they would is anyones guess of course, but ALTEA does not let CIA's/QP Lounge Dragons block seats (that's the line they tow). The old system allowed blocking. Even as a PS they would block for me where possible (on request)

 

[odysseus]

Fact

I only purchase the seat I sit in

I suspect you'd have more success of having it clear if you also purchased the seat next to you.

 

[chrizzz14]

I suspect you'd have more success of having it clear if you also purchased the seat next to you.

nooo the second seat would be up the cough end of the plane, Qantas isnt smart enough to put two seats together if purchased together!

And in reality apparently they're not allowed to let people purchase empty seats - i asked the question a while back at BNE ( our of curiosity ofcourse )

 

[Dave Noble]

And in reality apparently they're not allowed to let people purchase empty seats - i asked the question a while back at BNE ( our of curiosity ofcourse )

You can make booking through telephone sales for an additional seat; that way can happily have an empty seat adjacent

http://qantas.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/qantas.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=120

Purchasing an extra seat for personal comfort

Question
Can I purchase an extra seat for personal comfort?

Answer
Yes. Call your local Qantas office for more information about purchasing additional seats for personal comfort. Seat belt extensions can also be requested if required.
You can earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points for the extra seat subject to current Frequent Flyer terms and conditions.

Dave

 

[drron]

Just to add fuel to Mr's fire I have done the BNE-ISA-BNE trip twice-once as AA EXP,once as AA plat.I have had either 4C or 5C and only once someone in the B seat.Neither trip was seating requested by me.

 

[codash1099]

You can make booking through telephone sales for an additional seat; that way can happily have an empty seat adjacent

Answer



Dave

So you earn extra FF points if you purchase an extra seat. Do you also get the extra SC's? Could make a status run easier.

 

[munitalP]

Earning 2400 SCs does not offer an empty seat nearby guarantee. If someone checked in and requested the seat , there is no reason why they should not be seated there

I can't see that what the availability in business case matters at all

Dave, can't you for once stop being so analytical and critical of peoples posts? Offering information of about status - BTW 2720 as of now - empty seats in J and whatever other offered info is to build a picture in ones mind of the situation at hand - I am sure you understand that...

Mr!

 

[munitalP]

Reply 1

Thank you for taking the time to contact us. As a Platinum Frequent Flyer,
your feedback is very important to us.

I would like to advise that a Customer Care Executive from our Premium Team
will be personally contacting you to discuss your feedback.

If your matter is urgent or involves your current travel plans, please call
13 12 11* and one of our Premium Telephone Sales Consultants will be happy
to assist you. For contact details outside Australia please visit
qantas.com.

If there is anything else we can help you with in the interim, please feel
free to contact us on +61 2 9691 3399 during normal business hours.

We value your ongoing loyalty, and appreciate you taking the time to let us
know about your experience.


Kind regards

Qantas Customer Care

Note. Please do not respond to this email, as this is an “outgoing only”
service that does not accept incoming messages.

*Within Australia only.

 

[Lucky_man]

Reply 1

Thank you for taking the time to contact us. As a Platinum Frequent Flyer,
your feedback is very important to us.

I would like to advise that a Customer Care Executive from our Premium Team
will be personally contacting you to discuss your feedback.
...............
Kind regards

Qantas Customer Care

Note. Please do not respond to this email, as this is an “outgoing only”
service that does not accept incoming messages.

*Within Australia only.

I got this email when I sent feedback via the website. In fact I got the email several times but never once did some one call me. Not that they had to as it was a compliment about the service on one of their flights.

 

[JohnK]

This happens to me quite often as well and I am only a Platinum.

It is extremely disappointing to be sitting in the first row of WHY on a 767 with someone in the middle seat only to find the middle seat vacant in the next 6-7 rows. It could just be bad luck. Like the time when the Qantas Lounge agent and the gate agent could only give me an aisle seat 6 rows back from the front and there was at least 3 aisle seats vacant in front of mine when I got on the plane.

Saying that ALTEA does not allow blocking of seats is not a good enough excuse. The previous system was much better and Qantas really needs to find a way to treat their loyal customers better....